Cognitive advisory system of structured assessments through iot sensors

ABSTRACT

A method, computer system, and a computer program product for structured assessments is provided. The present invention may include initializing a structured assessment. The present invention may also include receiving a plurality of signup data from a user based on the initialized structured assessment. The present invention may then include collecting a plurality of user data from an IoT device based on the received plurality of signup data. The present invention may further include processing the collected plurality of user data. The present invention may also include generating a feedback report based on the processed plurality of user data, and outputting the generated feedback report to the user.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to the field of computing, andmore particularly to structured assessments utilizing a cloud serviceand Internet of Things (IoT) sensors.

Given the development of the IoT, there are many internet connecteddevices with a wide range of capabilities. Some devices may have theability to determine the pressure used to squeeze a ball, or determinethe direction, velocity or speed at which a ball is thrown. Sensory datacollected by an internet connected device can be utilized to test aperson's capabilities in a controlled and structured environment. IoTenabled devices may be utilized to test sensory motor development,visual motor integration, motor coordination, visual perception, grossand fine motor coordination, or cognitive capability. Specific use casesmay include testing the cognitive capability of the elderly, identifyingweaknesses in members of a sports team, or conducting visual or motorexaminations of law enforcement officers or members of the military.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer system,and a computer program product for structured assessments. The presentinvention may include initializing a structured assessment. The presentinvention may also include receiving a plurality of signup data from auser based on the initialized structured assessment. The presentinvention may then include collecting a plurality of user data from anIoT device based on the received plurality of signup data. The presentinvention may further include processing the collected plurality of userdata. The present invention may also include generating a feedbackreport based on the processed plurality of user data, and outputting thegenerated feedback report to the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionof illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connectionwith the accompanying drawings. The various features of the drawings arenot to scale as the illustrations are for clarity in facilitating oneskilled in the art in understanding the invention in conjunction withthe detailed description. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a networked computer environment according to atleast one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an operational flowchart illustrating a process for structuredassessments according to at least one embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary illustration of IoT devices which utilize a cloudservice and IoT sensors according to at least one embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary illustration of a feedback report generated bythe structured assessments program according to at least one embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of internal and external components ofcomputers and servers depicted in FIG. 1 according to at least oneembodiment;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an illustrative cloud computing environmentincluding the computer system depicted in FIG. 1, in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of functional layers of the illustrative cloudcomputing environment of FIG. 6, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Detailed embodiments of the claimed structures and methods are disclosedherein; however, it can be understood that the disclosed embodiments aremerely illustrative of the claimed structures and methods that may beembodied in various forms. This invention may, however, be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as limited to theexemplary embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these exemplaryembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough andcomplete and will fully convey the scope of this invention to thoseskilled in the art. In the description, details of well-known featuresand techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring thepresented embodiments.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product at any possible technical detail level of integration.The computer program product may include a computer readable storagemedium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereonfor causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, oreither source code or object code written in any combination of one ormore programming languages, including an object oriented programminglanguage such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The computer readable program instructions may executeentirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user'scomputer through any type of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including,for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gatearrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute thecomputer readable program instructions by utilizing state information ofthe computer readable program instructions to personalize the electroniccircuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of theorder noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

The following described exemplary embodiments provide a system, methodand program product for structured assessments utilizing a cloud serviceand IoT sensors. As such, the present embodiment has the capacity toimprove the technical field of structured assessments by utilizingsensory data from IoT devices and applying the sensory data to specificassessments. More specifically, an assessment may first be initialized.Program users may then be permitted to sign up to participate in theassessment using their IoT enabled device. The user may use the IoTenabled device in accordance with prescribed guidelines and any datagenerated from the user's use of the IoT enabled device may be collectedand stored by the structured assessments program. Thereafter, thecollected data may be analyzed, the user's results may be benchmarkedagainst the results of other users utilizing the service and/or againsta preconfigured guideline, and a feedback report may be outputted to theuser. The outcome of the assessment may also be outputted to theassessment coordinator (e.g., a doctor or specialist) and may beaccompanied by a recommendation or action plan for the given user.

As described previously, there are many IoT devices with a wide range ofcapabilities. Some devices may have the ability to determine thepressure used to squeeze a ball, or determine the direction, velocity orspeed at which a ball is thrown. IoT devices may have the ability tocollect sensory data which may be utilized to test a person'scapabilities in a controlled and structured environment. Among manyother things, IoT enabled devices may be utilized to test sensory motordevelopment, visual motor integration, motor coordination, visualperception, gross and fine motor coordination, or cognitive capability.Specific use cases may include testing the cognitive capability of theelderly, identifying weaknesses in members of a sports team, orconducting visual or motor examinations of law enforcement officers ormembers of the military. However, mere use of an IoT device may notmeasure the user's ability against other users of the same IoT device.

Therefore, it may be advantageous to facilitate structured assessmentsby utilizing a private or public cloud service and sensory datacollected by IoT devices. The IoT devices may be aligned with theassessment being performed, and any collected data may be utilized tobenchmark a user's results against the results of other users utilizingthe service or against a preconfigured guideline. A feedback report maybe outputted to the user. The outcome of the assessment may also beoutputted to the assessment coordinator and may be accompanied by arecommendation or action plan.

According to at least one embodiment, the structured assessments programmay be useful in leveraging IoT sensors embedded in devices so that whena user utilizes the device, data may be collected which may containcritical information regarding the user's abilities and behaviors (e.g.,health data). Based on the collected data, a benchmark or assessmentmodel may be constructed to measure and evaluate the user's embeddeddata and advise the user of any deviations from predefined guidelines asearly as possible so that any necessary action or treatment may be takenby the user (e.g., see a doctor). Thereafter, the user may providefeedback (e.g., indicate in the program that the user was sick with afever when his physical aptitude appeared lower than predefinedguidelines) so that the assessment model may be improved upon as needed.

According to at least one embodiment, an assessment coordinator mayutilize the service to create an assessment. The assessment mayevaluate, among other things, motor development, visual motorintegration, motor coordination, visual perception, and gross and finemotor coordination. As part of the assessment setup, the assessmentcoordinator may define the IoT devices that may be aligned with theassessment and how any generated sensory data may be utilized to scoreand rank a user who completes the assessment.

The present embodiment may permit a user to sign up to utilize theservice and select any relevant assessments. The service may be utilizedto perform the assessments in a public environment (e.g., where a usermay sign up for the assessment on their own, utilize any authorized IoTdevice to complete the assessment, and may receive benchmarkedassessment results against those of other users) or a privateenvironment (e.g., in conjunction with a sports team or militarytraining center). Some IoT devices may be supported by more than onecontrolled assessment, in which case users may sign up for severalassessments and may receive a separate report for each completedassessment.

As the IoT devices are used, the generated data may be collected andassociated with a user and assessment. The computer program may continueto monitor the user's IoT device activity over a period of time orwithin a specified assessment window. If the assessment is conductedwithin a private environment, the user may need to complete theassessment within a specific time frame, while a public environment maynot have the same time restrictions.

The present embodiment may further include a method for scoring andranking a user's assessment results and benchmarking the user'sperformance against other users participating in the same assessment. Afeedback report may be outputted to the user and may also be outputtedto the assessment coordinator with a recommendation or action plan basedon the user's assessment results.

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary networked computer environment 100 inaccordance with one embodiment is depicted. The networked computerenvironment 100 may include a computer 102 with a processor 104 and adata storage device 106 that is enabled to run a software program 108and a structured assessments program 110 a. The networked computerenvironment 100 may also include a server 112 that is enabled to run astructured assessments program 110 b that may interact with a database114 and a communication network 116. The networked computer environment100 may include a plurality of computers 102 and servers 112, only oneof which is shown. The communication network 116 may include varioustypes of communication networks, such as a wide area network (WAN),local area network (LAN), a telecommunication network, a wirelessnetwork, a public switched network and/or a satellite network. It shouldbe appreciated that FIG. 1 provides only an illustration of oneimplementation and does not imply any limitations with regard to theenvironments in which different embodiments may be implemented. Manymodifications to the depicted environments may be made based on designand implementation requirements.

The client computer 102 may communicate with the server computer 112 viathe communications network 116. The communications network 116 mayinclude connections, such as wire, wireless communication links, orfiber optic cables. As will be discussed with reference to FIG. 5,server computer 112 may include internal components 902 a and externalcomponents 904 a, respectively, and client computer 102 may includeinternal components 902 b and external components 904 b, respectively.Server computer 112 may also operate in a cloud computing service model,such as Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), orInfrastructure as a Service (IaaS). Server 112 may also be located in acloud computing deployment model, such as a private cloud, communitycloud, public cloud, or hybrid cloud. Client computer 102 may be, forexample, a mobile device, a telephone, a personal digital assistant, anetbook, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, orany type of computing devices capable of running a program, accessing anetwork, and accessing a database 114. According to variousimplementations of the present embodiment, the structured assessmentsprogram 110 a, 110 b may interact with a database 114 that may beembedded in various storage devices, such as, but not limited to acomputer/mobile device 102, a networked server 112, or a cloud storageservice.

According to the present embodiment, a user using a client computer 102or a server computer 112 may use the structured assessments program 110a, 110 b (respectively) to monitor the usage of connected IoT devices inconnection with a structured assessment, to benchmark, score and rankassessment results, and to provide a recommendation or action plan basedon assessment results. The structured assessments method is explained inmore detail below with respect to FIGS. 2-4.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an operational flowchart illustrating theexemplary structured assessments process 200 used by the structuredassessments program 110 a and 110 b according to at least one embodimentis depicted.

At 202 the test setup is received from the assessment coordinator.Setting up of a test (i.e., a structured assessment) may include anassessment coordinator (e.g., an expert in the testing field or adoctor) running the structured assessments program 110 a, 110 b on aclient computer 102 and defining a behavior model, key performanceindicator(s), and behavior validation rules within the structuredassessments program 110 a, 110 b. The test setup may also include theassessment coordinator defining the IoT toys or devices within thestructured assessments program 110 a, 110 b that may be aligned with thetest and indicating how sensory data collected by the IoT toys ordevices may be utilized to score and rank the user's performance. Forexample, a physical therapist may use the structured assessments program110 a, 110 b to configure a program which seeks to test and identify anyexisting issues with the therapist's youth patients' upper body physicalstrength. The physical therapist defines a behavior model (i.e., ageappropriate physical norms) and relevant devices (i.e., an IoT enabledtension ball and basketball) within the structured assessments program110 a, 110 b.

A key performance indicator (KPI), as indicated above, may be aquantitative metric used to measure how effectively a user is meeting apredefined guideline configured by the assessment coordinator duringsetup of the structured assessments program 110 a, 110 b. For example,if the assessment coordinator configures a test to measure a child'saptitude for throwing a ball, the KPI metrics may be the speed of theball once thrown, the distance that the ball travels, and the angle thatthe ball is thrown at.

Next, at 204, user signup is received. The user may indicate an interestin participating in a test by selecting the test from a list ofavailable tests in the interface of the structured assessments program110 a, 110 b on a client computer 102. Once the user selects a test, theuser may select an IoT device (e.g., toy) that the user may use toparticipate in the test from a list of compatible IoT devices in theinterface of the structured assessments program 110 a, 110 b on a clientcomputer 102. The user may link the selected IoT device to the selectedtest by logging in to the selected IoT device through the interface ofthe structured assessments program 110 a, 110 b on a client computer102. The structured assessments program 110 a, 110 b may be utilized toperform the selected test in a public environment (e.g., where a usermay sign up for the assessment on their own, utilize any authorized IoTdevice to complete the assessment, and may receive benchmarkedassessment results against those of other users) or in a privateenvironment (e.g., in conjunction with a sports team or militarytraining center). Certain IoT devices may align with multiple tests,enabling users to utilize the device to participate in more than onetest at a time by using the same generated data for each test butreceiving a separate report for each.

For example, the user is a four-year-old child with questionable motorimpairment whose parents elect for him to participate in the physicaltherapist's test described above. The child's issues, if existing andundetected, may develop into difficulties with writing and dressing. Thehope is to identify the issue by registering the child for a test whichcan diagnose and possibly treat the child's issue in advance of anyprogression. As such, the child's parents purchase an IoT enabledbasketball for his use in the test and select the child's preferred IoTenabled device on the client computer 102 interface of the structuredassessments program 110 a, 110 b. The child's parents initialize thebasketball with the child's information, including the child's name,age, gender, and any other data requested during the basketball's setup.The initialization of the IoT device and the selection and linking ofthe device within the structured assessments program 110 a, 110 bconstitutes user signup.

The IoT device may be shared between one or more users by programmingand reprogramming the embedded sensors with different personalinformation (e.g., name, age, gender), which may enable the one or moreusers to use the same device to perform the same test, if so desired.For example, if an IoT toy equipped with an embedded sensor is purchasedby one family and subsequently sold to another family, the purchasingfamily may reprogram the IoT toy to reflect the personal information ofthe new user. Both users may use the toy to participate in the sametest.

Next, at 206, user data is collected. Data collection may be done inreal time even though data processing may be done at a later time.Collected data may be stored in real time and thereafter retrieved toperform data processing and analysis. Collected data may be storedlocally on the IoT device, if such storage is permitted, in a datarepository such as database 114, or may be stored remotely on a cloudstorage device by utilizing a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection to transmitthe data over the communication network 116. Any data collected by theIoT device prior to the user's test signup may remain on the IoT deviceand may not be accessed by the structured assessments program 110 a, 110b. For example, if the child plays with the IoT enabled basketball, asdescribed above, prior to signing up for the physical therapist's test,the data collected by the basketball will remain on the device and willnot be considered in any assessment done by the structured assessmentsprogram 110 a, 110 b.

The structured assessments program 110 a, 110 b may collect data fromthe relevant IoT device and may associate the data with the given userand the selected test. The program may monitor the activity over aperiod of time or within a specified window. If, for example, the testis private or instructor led, users may need to complete the test withina specified time frame. This is compared to a public test whereby usersmay benchmark their performance against other users and no structuredtime requirement may be implemented.

Next, at 208, the collected data is processed. Data processing mayinclude noise reduction, wherein unexplained variants in the collecteddata may be removed and not considered for analysis by the structuredassessments program 110 a, 110 b. Noise reduction may be based onexplanations for abnormalities given by the user (e.g., an indicationwithin the structured assessments program 110 a, 110 b that the childwas sick with a fever when his physical aptitude appeared lower thanpredefined guidelines), so that the assessment model may not be taintedwith inaccurate data which provides no meaningful explanation for theuser's actions. Noise reduction may also be based on digital and signalprocessing techniques, including, for example, applying a filter toremove unwanted components or features from a given dataset. An appliedfilter may plot and identify meaningful aspects of a signal andeliminate unwanted or noisy signal aspects.

Data processing may include permitting the user to provide cognitivefeedback within the structured assessments program 110 a, 110 b tobenchmark the user's data and evolve the predefined benchmark. Cognitivefeedback may permit the structured assessments program 110 a, 110 b tomodify the behavior model and behavior validation rule based on theuser's data by comparing the user's data to the predefined norms andupdating the norm to reflect the user's actual results. If the feedbackreceived by the user is qualitative, comprising a description of theuser's data, the behavior model and behavior validation rule may not beupdated, but a label may be given to those portions of data described bythe user's qualitative feedback. For example, a label may indicate thatthe child was sick with a fever when the data was collected. The labelmay thereafter be saved as descriptive feedback relative to a particularKPI, so that if the behavior repeats itself, the structured assessmentsprogram 110 a, 110 b may associate the user's behavior with theappropriate portion of data. The generated labels may further be used inthe feedback report, as discussed below.

Benchmarking a user's results may be done after the structuredassessments program 110 a, 110 b has removed any noise from the data andhas recognized typical behaviors of the given user. To benchmark data,the structured assessments program 110 a, 110 b may calculate the valueof each KPI by determining the average of all values for that KPI andmay compare, score, and rank the calculated KPI values by comparing thecalculated KPI values to predefined guidelines (i.e., behavior models).The benchmarking process may measure a user's data against behaviormodels created by experts or doctors in the same field as the structuredassessment or against other users performing the same test. For example,if a child throws an IoT enabled ball into the air, the structuredassessments program 110 a, 110 b may collect the speed and distance ofthe ball in an effort to measure the child's gross motor skills. Thepredefined guideline or behavior validation model configured by thephysical therapist (e.g., assessment coordinator) indicates that thechild should be throwing the ball at 10 meters per second. In thisinstance, the child's calculated speed is found to be less than thebenchmarked rule and is noted as being abnormal.

Thereafter, at 210, feedback is outputted to the user. The feedback maybe related to observations made based on the user's results and mayinclude an appropriate recommendation or action plan. For each KPIanalyzed, a feedback report may be generated which may indicate whetherthe observed behavior falls within normal or abnormal ranges. Labelsgenerated by the structured assessments program 110 a, 110 b based on auser's behavior, as discussed previously at 208, may be provided withthe feedback report to assist the user in determining whetherperformance with respect to a particular KPI fits within prescribednorms. The feedback may be outputted in written format in the interfaceof the structured assessments program 110 a, 110 b or via a portabledocument format (PDF), among other formats. For example, a feedbackreport may be provided to the parent of a child participating in a testto advise the parent of the child's abnormal behavior. By providing thereport to a parent, the structured assessments program 110 a, 110 bnotifies an individual with knowledge of the child's detected issue sothat the child may receive assistance. The feedback report and actionplan are discussed in more detail below with respect to FIG. 4.

In response to given feedback, the user may calibrate the benchmark orvalidation model by providing a response to the outputted feedback. Theadministered test may then repeat by collecting additional data at 206,processing the collected data at 208, and outputting feedback at 210.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an exemplary illustration of IoT devices whichutilize a cloud service and IoT sensors is depicted according to atleast one embodiment. The networked IoT devices 300 includes IoT devices302 a-e transmitting data over a communication network 116. The IoTdevices 302 a-e may include any internet connected device which isembedded with electronics, software, sensors, etc., and a means ofnetwork connectivity whereby the IoT devices 302 a-e may remotelycollect and exchange data between other internet connected devices andsystems.

Referring now to FIG. 4, an exemplary illustration of a feedback reportand action plan 400 generated by the structured assessments program 110a, 110 b is depicted according to at least one embodiment. The feedbackreport and action plan 400 includes a table with a test column 402representing the selected test chosen by the user, a scaled score column404 representing the user's scaled performance score based on theperformance of other users or on predefined guidelines configured by theassessment coordinator, a percentile rank column 406 representing theuser's percentile rank based on the scaled score column 404 and theperformance of other users or on predefined guidelines configured by theassessment coordinator, a rating column 408 representing the user'sassigned rating based on the user's performance, and an action plancolumn 410 representing a course of remedial action provided by theassessment coordinator. The action plan column 410 may include arecommendation in accordance with the prescribed guidelines configuredby the assessment coordinator and based on the user's performance in theselected test.

The feedback report and action plan 400 also includes a composite scorecolumn 412 representing the categories of tests the user participatedin, a composite scaled score column 414 representing the total scaledscore of all tests participated in by the user in each category, acomposite percentile rank column 416 representing the overall percentilerank of the user based on the composite scaled score column 414, and acomposite rating column 418 representing the user's assigned ratingbased on the composite scaled score column 414 and the compositepercentile rank column 416. The composite scores may also provide anaction plan for the user if an overall recommendation is provided by theassessment coordinator.

It may be appreciated that FIGS. 2-4 provide only an illustration of oneembodiment and do not imply any limitations with regard to how differentembodiments may be implemented. Many modifications to the depictedembodiment(s) may be made based on design and implementationrequirements.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram 900 of internal and external components ofcomputers depicted in FIG. 1 in accordance with an illustrativeembodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that FIG.5 provides only an illustration of one implementation and does not implyany limitations with regard to the environments in which differentembodiments may be implemented. Many modifications to the depictedenvironments may be made based on design and implementationrequirements.

Data processing system 902, 904 is representative of any electronicdevice capable of executing machine-readable program instructions. Dataprocessing system 902, 904 may be representative of a smart phone, acomputer system, PDA, or other electronic devices. Examples of computingsystems, environments, and/or configurations that may represented bydata processing system 902, 904 include, but are not limited to,personal computer systems, server computer systems, thin clients, thickclients, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems,microprocessor-based systems, network PCs, minicomputer systems, anddistributed cloud computing environments that include any of the abovesystems or devices.

User client computer 102 and network server 112 may include respectivesets of internal components 902 a, b and external components 904 a, billustrated in FIG. 5. Each of the sets of internal components 902 a, bincludes one or more processors 906, one or more computer-readable RAMs908 and one or more computer-readable ROMs 910 on one or more buses 912,and one or more operating systems 914 and one or more computer-readabletangible storage devices 916. The one or more operating systems 914, thesoftware program 108 and the structured assessments program 110 a inclient computer 102, and the structured assessments program 110 b innetwork server 112, may be stored on one or more computer-readabletangible storage devices 916 for execution by one or more processors 906via one or more RAMs 908 (which typically include cache memory). In theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, each of the computer-readable tangiblestorage devices 916 is a magnetic disk storage device of an internalhard drive. Alternatively, each of the computer-readable tangiblestorage devices 916 is a semiconductor storage device such as ROM 910,EPROM, flash memory or any other computer-readable tangible storagedevice that can store a computer program and digital information.

Each set of internal components 902 a, b also includes a R/W drive orinterface 918 to read from and write to one or more portablecomputer-readable tangible storage devices 920 such as a CD-ROM, DVD,memory stick, magnetic tape, magnetic disk, optical disk orsemiconductor storage device. A software program, such as the softwareprogram 108 and the structured assessments program 110 a and 110 b canbe stored on one or more of the respective portable computer-readabletangible storage devices 920, read via the respective R/W drive orinterface 918, and loaded into the respective hard drive 916.

Each set of internal components 902 a, b may also include networkadapters (or switch port cards) or interfaces 922 such as a TCP/IPadapter cards, wireless wi-fi interface cards, or 3G or 4G wirelessinterface cards or other wired or wireless communication links. Thesoftware program 108 and the structured assessments program 110 a inclient computer 102 and the structured assessments program 110 b innetwork server computer 112 can be downloaded from an external computer(e.g., server) via a network (for example, the Internet, a local areanetwork or other, wide area network) and respective network adapters orinterfaces 922. From the network adapters (or switch port adaptors) orinterfaces 922, the software program 108 and the structured assessmentsprogram 110 a in client computer 102 and the structured assessmentsprogram 110 b in network server computer 112 are loaded into therespective hard drive 916. The network may comprise copper wires,optical fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches,gateway computers and/or edge servers.

Each of the sets of external components 904 a, b can include a computerdisplay monitor 924, a keyboard 926, and a computer mouse 928. Externalcomponents 904 a, b can also include touch screens, virtual keyboards,touch pads, pointing devices, and other human interface devices. Each ofthe sets of internal components 902 a, b also includes device drivers930 to interface to computer display monitor 924, keyboard 926, andcomputer mouse 928. The device drivers 930, R/W drive or interface 918,and network adapter or interface 922 comprise hardware and software(stored in storage device 916 and/or ROM 910).

It is understood in advance that although this disclosure includes adetailed description on cloud computing, implementation of the teachingsrecited herein are not limited to a cloud computing environment. Rather,embodiments of the present invention are capable of being implemented inconjunction with any other type of computing environment now known orlater developed.

Cloud computing is a model of service delivery for enabling convenient,on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computingresources (e.g., networks, network bandwidth, servers, processing,memory, storage, applications, virtual machines, and services) that canbe rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort orinteraction with a provider of the service. This cloud model may includeat least five characteristics, at least three service models, and atleast four deployment models.

Characteristics are as Follows:

On-demand self-service: a cloud consumer can unilaterally provisioncomputing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, asneeded automatically without requiring human interaction with theservice's provider.

Broad network access: capabilities are available over a network andaccessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneousthin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs).

Resource pooling: the provider's computing resources are pooled to servemultiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physicaland virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according todemand. There is a sense of location independence in that the consumergenerally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of theprovided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher levelof abstraction (e.g., country, state, or datacenter).

Rapid elasticity: capabilities can be rapidly and elasticallyprovisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out andrapidly released to quickly scale in. To the consumer, the capabilitiesavailable for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can bepurchased in any quantity at any time.

Measured service: cloud systems automatically control and optimizeresource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level ofabstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage,processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can bemonitored, controlled, and reported providing transparency for both theprovider and consumer of the utilized service.

Service Models are as Follows:

Software as a Service (SaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto use the provider's applications running on a cloud infrastructure.The applications are accessible from various client devices through athin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based e-mail).The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloudinfrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, storage,or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exceptionof limited user-specific application configuration settings.

Platform as a Service (PaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquiredapplications created using programming languages and tools supported bythe provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure including networks, servers, operating systems, orstorage, but has control over the deployed applications and possiblyapplication hosting environment configurations.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): the capability provided to theconsumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and otherfundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy andrun arbitrary software, which can include operating systems andapplications. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage,deployed applications, and possibly limited control of select networkingcomponents (e.g., host firewalls).

Deployment Models are as Follows:

Private cloud: the cloud infrastructure is operated solely for anorganization. It may be managed by the organization or a third party andmay exist on-premises or off-premises.

Community cloud: the cloud infrastructure is shared by severalorganizations and supports a specific community that has shared concerns(e.g., mission, security requirements, policy, and complianceconsiderations). It may be managed by the organizations or a third partyand may exist on-premises or off-premises.

Public cloud: the cloud infrastructure is made available to the generalpublic or a large industry group and is owned by an organization sellingcloud services.

Hybrid cloud: the cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or moreclouds (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities butare bound together by standardized or proprietary technology thatenables data and application portability (e.g., cloud bursting forload-balancing between clouds).

A cloud computing environment is service oriented with a focus onstatelessness, low coupling, modularity, and semantic interoperability.At the heart of cloud computing is an infrastructure comprising anetwork of interconnected nodes.

Referring now to FIG. 6, illustrative cloud computing environment 1000is depicted. As shown, cloud computing environment 1000 comprises one ormore cloud computing nodes 100 with which local computing devices usedby cloud consumers, such as, for example, personal digital assistant(PDA) or cellular telephone 1000A, desktop computer 1000B, laptopcomputer 1000C, and/or automobile computer system 1000N may communicate.Nodes 100 may communicate with one another. They may be grouped (notshown) physically or virtually, in one or more networks, such asPrivate, Community, Public, or Hybrid clouds as described hereinabove,or a combination thereof. This allows cloud computing environment 1000to offer infrastructure, platforms and/or software as services for whicha cloud consumer does not need to maintain resources on a localcomputing device. It is understood that the types of computing devices1000A-N shown in FIG. 6 are intended to be illustrative only and thatcomputing nodes 100 and cloud computing environment 1000 can communicatewith any type of computerized device over any type of network and/ornetwork addressable connection (e.g., using a web browser).

Referring now to FIG. 7, a set of functional abstraction layers 1100provided by cloud computing environment 1000 is shown. It should beunderstood in advance that the components, layers, and functions shownin FIG. 7 are intended to be illustrative only and embodiments of theinvention are not limited thereto. As depicted, the following layers andcorresponding functions are provided:

Hardware and software layer 1102 includes hardware and softwarecomponents. Examples of hardware components include: mainframes 1104;RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) architecture based servers 1106;servers 1108; blade servers 1110; storage devices 1112; and networks andnetworking components 1114. In some embodiments, software componentsinclude network application server software 1116 and database software1118.

Virtualization layer 1120 provides an abstraction layer from which thefollowing examples of virtual entities may be provided: virtual servers1122; virtual storage 1124; virtual networks 1126, including virtualprivate networks; virtual applications and operating systems 1128; andvirtual clients 1130.

In one example, management layer 1132 may provide the functionsdescribed below. Resource provisioning 1134 provides dynamic procurementof computing resources and other resources that are utilized to performtasks within the cloud computing environment. Metering and Pricing 1136provide cost tracking as resources are utilized within the cloudcomputing environment, and billing or invoicing for consumption of theseresources. In one example, these resources may comprise applicationsoftware licenses. Security provides identity verification for cloudconsumers and tasks, as well as protection for data and other resources.User portal 1138 provides access to the cloud computing environment forconsumers and system administrators. Service level management 1140provides cloud computing resource allocation and management such thatrequired service levels are met. Service Level Agreement (SLA) planningand fulfillment 1142 provide pre-arrangement for, and procurement of,cloud computing resources for which a future requirement is anticipatedin accordance with an SLA.

Workloads layer 1144 provides examples of functionality for which thecloud computing environment may be utilized. Examples of workloads andfunctions which may be provided from this layer include: mapping andnavigation 1146; software development and lifecycle management 1148;virtual classroom education delivery 1150; data analytics processing1152; transaction processing 1154; and structured assessments 1156. Astructured assessments program 110 a, 110 b provides a way to facilitatestructured assessments by utilizing a private or public cloud serviceand IoT sensors to conduct specialized tests, benchmark user results,and provide a recommendation or action plan given predefined expertguidelines.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for structured assessments, the methodcomprising: initializing a structured assessment; receiving a pluralityof signup data from a user based on the initialized structuredassessment; collecting a plurality of user data from an Internet ofThings (IoT) device based on the received plurality of signup data;processing the collected plurality of user data; generating a feedbackreport based on the processed plurality of user data; and outputting thegenerated feedback report to the user.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereininitializing the structured assessment further comprises: defining atleast one assessment component; defining the IoT device that isassociated with the structured assessment; and denoting a benchmarkingprocess by which the collected plurality of user data will be utilizedto score and rank a user's performance.
 3. The method of claim 2,wherein the at least one assessment component is selected from the groupconsisting of one or more behavior models, one or more key performanceindicators and one or more behavior validation rules.
 4. The method ofclaim 2, wherein receiving the plurality of signup data from the userbased on the initialized structured assessment further comprises:selecting the structured assessment from a list of available structuredassessments; and choosing and linking the IoT device to be used to theselected structured assessment.
 5. The method of claim 4, whereincollecting the user's data further comprises: retrieving data from thechosen IoT device or a cloud server; and associating the retrieved datawith the user and the selected structured assessment.
 6. The method ofclaim 5, wherein processing the collected user data further comprises:removing a plurality of noise from the collected data; receiving aplurality of cognitive feedback from the user; and benchmarking thecollected data.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the generated feedbackreport indicates whether the collected data falls within a predefinednorm.
 8. A computer system for structured assessments, comprising: oneor more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, one or morecomputer-readable tangible storage medium, and program instructionsstored on at least one of the one or more tangible storage medium forexecution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least oneof the one or more memories, wherein the computer system is capable ofperforming a method comprising: initializing a structured assessment;receiving a plurality of signup data from a user based on theinitialized structured assessment; collecting a plurality of user datafrom an Internet of Things (IoT) device based on the received pluralityof signup data; processing the collected plurality of user data;generating a feedback report based on the processed plurality of userdata; and outputting the generated feedback report to the user.
 9. Thecomputer system of claim 8, wherein initializing the structuredassessment further comprises: defining at least one assessmentcomponent; defining the IoT device that is associated with thestructured assessment; and denoting a benchmarking process by which thecollected plurality of user data will be utilized to score and rank auser's performance.
 10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the atleast one assessment component is selected from the group consisting ofone or more behavior models, one or more key performance indicators andone or more behavior validation rules.
 11. The computer system of claim9, wherein receiving the plurality of signup data from the user based onthe initialized structured assessment further comprises: selecting thestructured assessment from a list of available structured assessments;and choosing and linking the IoT device to be used to the selectedstructured assessment.
 12. The computer system of claim 11, whereincollecting the user's data further comprises: retrieving data from thechosen IoT device or a cloud server; and associating the retrieved datawith the user and the selected structured assessment.
 13. The computersystem of claim 12, wherein processing the collected user data furthercomprises: removing a plurality of noise from the collected data;receiving a plurality of cognitive feedback from the user; andbenchmarking the collected data.
 14. The computer system of claim 13,wherein the generated feedback report indicates whether the collecteddata falls within a predefined norm.
 15. A computer program product forstructured assessments, comprising: one or more computer-readablestorage media and program instructions stored on at least one of the oneor more tangible storage media, the program instructions executable by aprocessor to cause the processor to perform a method comprising:initializing a structured assessment; receiving a plurality of signupdata from a user based on the initialized structured assessment;collecting a plurality of user data from an Internet of Things (IoT)device based on the received plurality of signup data; processing thecollected plurality of user data; generating a feedback report based onthe processed plurality of user data; and outputting the generatedfeedback report to the user.
 16. The computer program product of claim15, wherein initializing the structured assessment further comprises:defining at least one assessment component; defining the IoT device thatis associated with the structured assessment; and denoting abenchmarking process by which the collected plurality of user data willbe utilized to score and rank a user's performance.
 17. The computerprogram product of claim 16, wherein the at least one assessmentcomponent is selected from the group consisting of one or more behaviormodels, one or more key performance indicators and one or more behaviorvalidation rules.
 18. The computer program product of claim 16, whereinreceiving the plurality of signup data from the user based on theinitialized structured assessment further comprises: selecting thestructured assessment from a list of available structured assessments;and choosing and linking the IoT device to be used to the selectedstructured assessment.
 19. The computer program product of claim 18,wherein collecting the user's data further comprises: retrieving datafrom the chosen IoT device or a cloud server; and associating theretrieved data with the user and the selected structured assessment. 20.The computer program product of claim 19, wherein processing thecollected user data further comprises: removing a plurality of noisefrom the collected data; receiving a plurality of cognitive feedbackfrom the user; and benchmarking the collected data.